Building block and wall construction made therefrom



1951 M. FRANTZ 2,994,162

BUILDING BLOCK AND WALL CONSTRUCTION MADE THEREFROM Filed July 5, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 (/4 ml 31? 7 A I 2 3/ I INVENTOR.

Mar/(e Fran 72 ATTORNE V5 2,994,162 BUILDING BLOCK AND WALL CONSTRUCTIGN MADE THERKE'FROM Markey Frantz, P.O. 'Box 677, Modesto, Calif. Filed July 5, 1957, Ser. No. 670,273 8 Claims. (Cl. 50-454) This invention relates generally to building blocks and wall constructions made from such blocks.

This application is a continuation-in-part of application Serial No. 541,118, filed Oct. 18, 1955, now abandoned.

Conventional building blocks now on the market have been found to be unsatisfactory for many reasons. For example, they are diflicult to lay and when laid often present an unattractive appearance. It i often difficult to obtain a wall constructed from such blocks which is waterproof, particularly at corners. In walls formed from conventional blocks it is also often difficult to place the usual water piping, electrical wiring and the like which is required in a building.

In general, it is an object of the present invention to provide a building and a wall construction made there from which overcomes the above named disadvantages.

Another object of the invention is to provide a building block and wall construction of the above character which is waterproof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a building block and wall construction of the above character in which vertical openings in the blocks are in alignment to facilitate placement of water and gas pipes, drains, vents and electrical conduits.

Another object of the invention is to provide a building block and wall construction of the above character in which reinforcing material may be readily utilized and in which the reinforcing material is continued around the corners without cutting.

Another object of the invention is to provide a building block of the above character from which a wall may be readily and easily constructed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wall construction of the above character in which simulated vertical and horizontal recessed mortar joints are provided.

Additional objects and features of the invention will appear from the following description in which the preferred embodiments have been set forth in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

Referring to the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a partially constructed wall erected from blocks embodying my invention showing several courses at different levels;

FIGURE 2 is a view partly in cross section taken along the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURES 4A and 4B are bottom and top perspective views of the principal or main block used in the wall construction shown in FIGURE 1 and may be called the interlocking block;

FIGURES 5A and 5B are top and bottom plan views of a right hand corner block utilized in the wall construction shown in FIGURES l, 2 and 3;

FIGURES 6A and 6B are plan and end elevation views,

Patented Aug. 1, 1961 respectively, of a bond block utilized in the wall construction shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of two adjacent blocks in place showing the interlocking key; and

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged view of a bond block in place and showing the reinforcing.

In general, the wall construction shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 is comprised of main interlocking blocks 11 shown in FIGURES 4A and 4B, right hand corner blocks 12 shown in FIGURES 5A and 5B, left hand corner blocks 13 similar to those shown in FIGURES 5A and 5B, and bond blocks 14- shown in FIGURES 6A and 6B.

As shown in the drawing, the main or interlocking blocks are each formed with a horizontal projection or rib 17 on its upper side, the rib having a width slightly less than the width of the block shown. The rib 17 has a substantially flat top surface with a groove 18 centrally disposed therein. The groove is formed by a pair of inclined side walls 19 and 21 and a horizontal bottom wall 22. The rib 17 is provided with vertical side edges.23 which form right angles with horizontal ledges 24, as shown. 1

A recess 26 is formed in the flat lower side of the block and corresponds to the shape of the rib 17 so that the recess 26 will accommodate the rib 17 when the blocks are superposed. However, it should be noted that the recess 26 has a depth which is appreciably less than the height of the rib to provide a simulated recessed mortar joint as hereinafter described. At least one and preferably a pair of substantially square openings 28 are formed within the block and extend from the rib 17 and open into the recess 26.

Each end of the interlocking block is provided with a projecting portion 31 having a vertical fiat surface and in which is formed a vertical groove 32 centrally disposed therein. The projecting portions have a width greater than the width of the rib 17 but substantially less than the width of the block to provide recesses 33 which form simulated mortar joints when the blocks are used in a wall as hereinafter described. The projecting portions 31 protrude a distance which is approximately equal to one-half of the difference between the height of the rib 17 and the depth of the recess 26. The grooves 32 are of substantially the same shape as the groove 18 and the upper end of each of the grooves 32 enter opposite ends of the groove 18.

The side faces 34 of the block may be flat as shown in the drawing.

The interlocking blocks may be formed of any suitable material such as concrete. However, I have found it preferable to utilize waterproof cement in making the blocks, particularly when the blocks are used for making a waterproof wall construction as hereinafter described.

The right and left corner blocks 12 and 13 are similar to the main interlocking blocks shown in FIGURES 4A and 4B. In FIGURES 5A and 5B 1 have only shown a right hand block, however the construction of the left hand block is similar. Thus, as shown, the right hand corner block is provided with a horizontal rib 37 similar to the rib 17 except that the rib 37 is formed in an L- shape with two leg portions 37a and 37b at right angles to each other. A groove 38 similar to groove 18 is centrally disposed in the flat top surface of the rib 37. It is also L-shaped, formed with two portions 38a and 38b at right angles to each other. An L-s-haped recess 39 is formed in the lower side of the block and is formed in two portions 39a and 3% at right angles to each other. The shape of the recess 39 generally corresponds to the shape of the rib 37 except that the recess 39 has a depth appreciably less than the height of the rib 37 as is trueof the recess 26 with respect to the rib 17.

The end portions of the corner block 12 are provided with projecting portions 42 and 43 having flat surfaces and which protrude from the block'the same amount as the projecting portions 31. It will be noted, however, that projecting portion 42 faces in a direction at right angles to the direction in which projecting portion 43 faces. Vertical grooves 44 substantially the same shape as groove 38 are centrally disposed in the projecting portions 42 and 43 as shown. Openings 46 are formed in the block and extend from the rib 3'7 and open into the recess 39.

The corner block 12 is formed with outer side faces 47 and 48 at right angles to each other and joined by a curved portion 49. The corner block is also provided with inner face 51 which may be fiat. It will be noted that the corner block is substantially rectangular with an L-shaped rib 37 and recess 39.

The block 12 hereinbefore described may be termed a right-handed block. Left-handed blocks are also required in building a wall in accordance with my invention. However, such blocks will not be described in detail because they are substantially identical to the blocks 12 except that the block is left-handed instead of righthanded, that is the short leg portions of the ribs and recesses of the corner block face in a direction 180 removed from that shown in FIGURES A and 5B.

The bonding block shown in FIGURES 6A and 6B differs from the main block only in that an additional recess 53 is formed in the rib. The recess has a width substantially less than the rib and is centrally disposed in the rib. The recess 53 is also coextensive with the length of the block and has a depth substantially greater than the height of the ribs as shown in FIGURE 6B.

It should be mentioned that although the main block has been called an interlocking block, all of the blocks are interlocking blocks in that the ribs seat in recesses in the blocks immediately above. The corner blocks and the bonding blocks can be formed of any suitable material but preferably are formed of the same material as the main blocks.

In FIGURES l, 2 and 3 I 'have shown a wall built from the blocks I have described and which are shown in FIGURES 4A and 4B, 5A and 5B, and 6A and 6B. As shown in the drawing, the wall is erected on a suitable foundation such as the concrete foundation 56 as shown in the drawing. The concrete foundation is provided with a recess 57 which accommodates studding 58. Main blocks 11 are then placed on the foundation, end to end as shown in FIGURE 2. The next course or layer of blocks is placed immediately on the layer below in the conventional staggered manner so that the ends of the blocks immediately above are in the center of each of the blocks immediately below. When the blocks are laid in this manner, the openings 28 are in registration or alignment to form spaced vertical openings 'which extend the height of the wall.

Additional courses or layers of blocks are then erected until a predetermined height is reached at which time a layer of bonding blocks is put in place. The corners of the building are formed by first utilizing a right-handed block and then a left-handed block. For example, as shown in FIGURE 2, first a right-handed block 12 is utilized and then a left-handed block 13, then a righthanded block 12 and so on. The openings 46 in the corner blocks are also in registration and form vertical openings which-extend the height of the wall.

If the wall need not be waterproofed, no mortar or grouting is required because the ribs in the blocks are interlocked with the recesses in the blocks immediately above. However, when a waterproof wall is required, a dry mix of cement, sand and gravel is poured in the vertical grooves 32 in the ends of the blocks to form what may be called an interlocking key 61 before the next succeeding course or layer of blocks is laid. It is also often desirable to fill the corner opening 46 and the openings 46 immediately adjacent the corner opening 46 with mortar. If desired mortar can also be placed in certain spaced vertical openings in the blocks 11. For example,-

mortar can be placed in the vertical openings which are spaced at 4 foot intervals.

Suitable reinforcing may be incorporated in the walls during construction. For example, when the wall has reached an elevation of 3 ft., one or more horizontal reinforcing rods 64 can be placed in the grooves 18 in the main blocks along the length of the wall. Such horizontal reinforcing rods are, of course, laid before the spaced vertical openings are filled with grouting. Since the straight reinforcing rods 64 cannot be readily laid around the corner, separate reinforcing members 66 having short legs 66a and 66b extending at right angles to each other are utilized for the corners. Every time horizontal reinforcing is provided in the main blocks 11, one of the reinforcing members 66 is provided in the grooves 38, 38a and 38b in the corner block on the same course in which the horizontal reinforcing members 64 are laid. A reinforcing member 66 is placed in the groove 38 in the corner block in the course immediately below and in the groove 38 in the corner block immediately above. Thus, three layers of reinforcing are provided at the corner whenever horizontal reinforcing is provided in the wall.

If desired, vertical reinforcing rods 67 may also be placed in the vertical openings in the blocks in which the grouting is placed and also at positions in the wall adjacent conventional openings in the wall such as openings for windows or doors.

At certain elevations of the wall such as at 4 ft. and at 8 ft., a course of layer of bonding blocks can be placed. Thus, as shown in the drawing, the bonding blocks are superposed on the blocks 11 in the same manner as other blocks 11. Corner blocks having the same contour as the bonding blocks are also laid. Reinforcing members 68 may be placed in the recesses 53 in the blocks as shown in FIGURE 1. The vertical openings immediately below the bonding blocks are plugged with paper or other suitable material and then a layer of grouting is laid in the recesses 53 in the bonding blocks. This provides a solid ring of reinforced concrete around the entire building. After the grouting has been poured, additional courses of the blocks 11 are laid on the bonding blocks until a suitable elevation such as the 8 ft. elevation is reached, at which time another course of bonding blocks is utilized. The bonding block is then filled with concrete mix in the manner hereinbefore described. In this position the bonding block forms the upper surface of the wall and is called the crown block.

After the wall has been erected, the inner and outer surfaces of the wall are sprayed with water which passes into the concrete mix in the vertical grooves 32 and causes the concrete to set and form a bond between the blocks to provide a completely water-tight wall even at the corners.

Since the ribs 17 are of a height which is greater than the depth of the recesses 26, a recess is formed between the upper and lower edges of the block and because the projecting portions 39a protrude a distance equal tc one-half of this space, a simulated recessed mortar joint is provided around the outer periphery of the blocks as shown.

The main blocks 11 and the corner blocks 12 and the bonding blocks 14 may be of any desired size. Wher the blocks are to be utilized for an outside or exterioi wallcorrstruetio 't have'foundit desirable to make tht blocks approximately 8 in. wide by 16 in. long by 4 in high. To make it possible to provide a wall construction which forms vertical surfaces for doors, windows and the like, blocks of one-half the above width are utilized. In forming inner walls as hereinafter described, I have found it desirable to use a block of slightly less width than the outer blocks. For example, I found a block having a Width of 6 in. is very suitable for inner walls.

A portion of a typical inner wall is shown in FIGURE 1 of the drawing in which inner bond blocks 69 having a width of 6 in. are laid to form a wall and which are connected to the outer wall by suitable means such as reinforcing bolts 71 placed at various elevations and which have one end of the reinforcing bolt extending into one of the openings 72 in the inner blocks 69 next adjacent the outer wall and having the other end of the bolt extending into the opening 28 in the adjacent outer main block. A portion of the rib of that outer main block is cut out or knocked out to provide a channel 76 to receive the bolt. The openings 72 are then filled with grout to firmly secure the inner wall to the outer wall. The inner wall is then constructed in much the same manner as the outer wall and vertical and horizontal reinforcing is provided where desired. Half-blocks are also utilized to insure that the wall will come out even at the ends.

A wall construction utilizing my blocks has the particular advantage in that the openings in the blocks form vertical passages or openings which extend throughout the entire height of the wall. This is particularly advantageous for the installation of water and gas pipes, drains, vents, conduits and the like. The openings in the blocks are also of such a size so that when the side wall of one of the main blocks is sawed or cut opposite the opening a single or double electrical conduit box can be installed. If desired, the electrical conduit need not be laid within the vertical openings but can be laid in the recesses which extend around the periphery of the laid blocks.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that I have provided building blocks which have many advantages particularly when utilized for erecting waterproof walls. The blocks are of such a configuration that if they should happen to crack, they will not become dislodged. The blocks may be used with or without mortar. Walls utilizing such blocks may be readily provided with suitable reinforcing. Waterproofing is easily accomplished merely by filling certain grooves with a dry mix and then spraying the entire wall with water. Inner walls or partitions may also be readily erected utilizing the same principles.

I claim:

1. A building block having a rib formed on its upper side, said rib having a width slightly less than the width of the block, the block also having a recess formed in its lower side, the recess being of appreciably less depth than the height of the rib and otherwise corresponding to the shape of the rib, the block being formed with at least one vertical opening in said block passing through the rib and opening into said recess, the block having a projecting portion on each end portion of the block of a width substantially less than the width of the block and of a width substantially greater than the width of the rib, the end portion also having a substantially fiat surface with a vertical centrally disposed relatively narrow groove therein, each projecting portion having the same height as the block and protruding a distance equal to approximately one-half of the difference between the height of the rib and the depth of the recess.

2. A building block as in claim 1 wherein said rib and said recess are L-shaped and wherein one projecting portion lies in a plane which is at right angles to the plane in which the other projecting portion lies.

3. A building block as in claim 1 wherein said rib and block are formed with a recess having a width substantially greater than one-half of the width of the rib and having a depth substantially greater than the height of the rib.

4. In a wall construction, a plurality of superposed main building blocks, each main block having a rib formed on its upper side, the rib having a width slightly less than the width of the block and having a substantially flat top surface with a centrally disposed relatively narrow groove therein, the main block also having a recess formed in its lower side, the recess corresponding generally to the shape of the rib, the main block being formed with at least one vertical hole passing through the rib and opening into the recess in the block, the main block having projecting portions at each end of a width substantially less than the width of the block formed with substantially flat surfaces and with vertical centrally disposed relatively narrow grooves therein, said projecting portions having a width substantially greater than the width of the rib and being of the same height as the block, the recesses of the blocks receiving the ribs of the blocks below, the depth of the recesses being appreciably less than the height of the ribs to provide horizontal right-angle recesses between upper and lower edges of the blocks, the projecting portion on one block engaging the projecting portion on the adjacent block to provide vertical right-angle recesses between the side edges of the blocks having a Width substantially equal to the Width of the horizontal recesses provided between the blocks.

5. A wall construction as in claim 4 wherein said centrally disposed grooves in said projecting portions are filled with concrete to form interlocking keys.

6. In a wall construction, a plurality of superposed main building blocks, each of the main blocks having a rib formed in its upper side, the rib having a width slightly less than the width of the block and having a substantially flat top surface with a centrally disposed relatively narrow groove therein, each of the main blocks also having a recess in its lower side, the shape of the recess generally corresponding to the shape of the rib, each of the main blocks being formed with at least one vertical hole passing through the rib and opening into the recess in the block, each of the main blocks having projecting portions of the same height as the block at each end formed with substantially flat surfaces and with vertical centrally disposed relatively narrow grooves therein, the projecting portions being of a width greater than the width of the rib and less than the width of the block, the recesses of the blocks receiving the ribs of the blocks below, the depth of the recesses being appreciably less than the height of the ribs to provide horizontal right-angle recesses between the upper and lower edges of the blocks, the projecting portion on one block engaging the projecting portion on the adjacent block to provide vertical right-angle recesses between the side edges of the blocks having a width substantially equal to the width of the horizontal recesses between the blocks, horizontal reinforcing members disposed in certain of the grooves in the ribs of the main blocks, and vertical reinforcing members disposed in certain of the aligned vertical openings in the blocks, and grouting filling the openings in which the vertical reinforcing members are disposed, and additional grouting in the vertical grooves in the projecting portions of the blocks to form interlocking keys between the blocks.

7. A building block having a rib formed on its upper side having vertical side walls and a substantially flat surface with a centrally disposed, relatively narrow groove therein, said rib having a width substantially less than the width of the block, the block also having a recess formed in its lower side, the recess being of appreciably less depth than the height of the rib and otherwise corresponding to the shape of the rib, the block being formed with two vertical openings in said block passing through said rib and opening into said recess, the block having a projecting portion on each end of substantially greater width than the rib and a width substantially less than the width of the block, and having a substantially flat surface with a vertical, centrally disposed, relatively narrow groove therein, each projecting portion protruding a distance equal to approximately one-half the difference between 7 the height of the rib and the depth of the recess and form, ing angular vertical recesses between it and the block.

8. A building block asvin claim 7 wherein said rib'and block are formed with a recess having a Width substantially greater than one-half the width of the rib and having a depth substantially greater than the height of the rib.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Trochsler Mar. 25, 1884 Rosenzi Oct. 1, 1895 

